Clyde Hersey

Clyde Allen Hersey, 70, passed away on 28 February 2021 at Summit Nursing Home in Kansas City, MO. He was born on 4 February 1951 in Morrilton, AR to Clarence Hersey and Othella Erby-Hersey.

Clyde accepted Christ at an early age at St. Matthew #2 Baptist Church, under the leadership of the late Pastor E. Vaughn, he would contain his walk-in faith at Shiloh Institutional Church of God in Christ (C.O.G.I.C.) under the leadership of Superintendent Daniel Roberson.

Growing up in Morrilton, AR, he spent his summers playing golf and the sport he loved most; baseball! As a back catcher, he was known to have a live arm. Word on the street is that he threw runners out at 2nd Base on his knees! In addition to his powerful arm, he equally matched that ability at the plate as a powerful hitter. With such a powerful swing, pitchers often pitched around him to avoid embarrassment! Due to the social climate, he grew up in, limited scholarship opportunities were available for player of color to major universities. Had he been afforded such an opportunity; he would have been a great asset to any team. He was also a skilled outdoorsman and loved to hunt with his two dogs, Wanna Be and Pearl! Legend has it that he did not even need a gun. Wanna Be and Pearl were so skilled, they would go catch and deliver rabbits at his feet without a shot being fired!

Clyde attended Morrilton High School in Morrilton, AR. Having an interest in becoming an electrician, he ventured to Miami, FL to follow that aspiration and attended electrician school. After his time there, he enrolled at Arkansas AM&N College, known today as the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). While attending Arkansas AM&N College, Clyde majored in Business Administration and minored Accounting. He was highly intelligent and was within one semester of graduating with both degrees. While at Arkansas AM&N College, he became a member of Phi Beta Sigma, Inc. After pledging, he was given the name “Du Rock” and in the future it earned him respect amongst his fraternity brothers and students across campus. Because he was so intelligent and was eloquent in his speech, he was often called upon by his fraternity brothers to negotiate with companies in the area to support the fraternity in their fund-raising efforts. This proved vital to the chapter and would help him later in life.

In 1976, he left Arkansas and migrated to Kansas City, MO to join other siblings in the city. After his arrival to Kansas City, he met Kim Hoskins and were blessed with a set of twin sons. He later found employment with Missouri Pacific Railroad where he proudly worked for over a decade as a Switchman and an Engineer. He was later employed by the U.S.D.A.

His final employment opportunity came while being a member of Shiloh were his responsibilities included church van driver, facility maintenance, and most notable, landscaping! Clyde’s landscaping ability were second to none! These abilities were the product of his hard work as a youth planting trees at the Morrilton Country Club. Because he was so good at his job, he received compliments from families in the neighborhood on how well the property was maintained! Since his reputation proceeded him, he was often requested to assist other churches with their landscaping needs. He was so good at his job, others would try to replicate his results, but they never came close!

He leaves to cherish his memory, his sons J’Rome (Anissa) and Tyrome Hoskins of Kansas City, MO; sisters Mattie and Janice Hersey of Kansas City; brother Glenn Hersey (Wanda) of Little Rock, AR; his grandchildren (Ja’Neisa Hoskins, Xavier Hoskins, Jayla Hoskins, Ka’Dyn Hoskins, and Logan Hoskins) and a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends who all respected and loved him.

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